The Vegan Answer to the Meatball Sub

Show me a non-vegetarian who claims not to like meatball subs, and I’ll show you a liar.

Meatballs, marinara sauce, cheese. All on a sub roll. To those not averse to eating animals and animal products, heaven on a bun.

If I had to bet on it, I’d say more than one conscious diet has been ruined when a drunken vegetarian or vegan stumbled by a late-night Italian sub shop, only to be drawn by the irresistible call of the meatball sub which rivals that of Homer’s mythical Sirens.

But now, my vegetarian friends, heaven on a bun is no longer forbidden to us.

Meet the Wheatball

This one comes from Robin Robertson’s Vegan on the Cheap, and cheap it is. According to Robin, these “wheatball” sandwiches come in at less than $1.50 per serving.

Of course, that’s if you make your marinara sauce from scratch and use Robin’s recipe for Cheezee sauce instead of paying for vegan mozzarella cheese. When Erin and Christine tag-teamed this recipe last night, they did all of that. (Our splurge was on the Ezekiel sprouted buns.)

But Robin recommends getting ready-made marinara and vegan cheese if you’re strapped for time (and your budget can handle an extravagant two dollars per serving). At the end of this post, I’ve provided her recipe for Cheezee sauce, but figured I’d let you insert your favorite marinara sauce, storebought or homemade.

These are called “wheatball” sandwiches, but don’t let that name turn you off. The base of the wheatballs is mainly chickpeas and mushrooms, with some breadcrumbs and wheat gluten included to provide the right texture.

And you know what? These subs are really good. You can’t go into it expecting a meatball sub, because it’s not that. But it’s a great sandwich that seems like a meatball sub, and I’m very happy with that. We’ll be making this recipe again.

My biggest gripe is one that applies to nearly every veggie burger or veggie meatball—they’re not firm the way real burgers or meatballs are. But I’m used to that by now, and you probably are too.

So make these and enjoy a little bit of animal-free heaven. Then head to Robin’s blog to tell her thanks.

Wheatball Sandwiches

From Vegan on the Cheap, by Robin Robertson, Wiley, 2010

12 to 16 Wheatballs (recipe below)

2 cups Marinara Sauce

1/3 cup Cheezee Sauce (recipe below)

4 small sub rolls or other sandwich rolls

1. In a large saucepan, combine the wheatballs and marinara sauce, and heat over medium heat. Use a potato ricer to smash and flatten the balls, retaining some shape and texture. Cook stirring, until heated through, about 5 minutes. Keep warm. Preheat the broiler.

2. Heat the cheezee sauce in a small saucepan and keep warm.

3. Split the sub rolls and place them, cut side up, on a baking sheet. Toast the rolls, then arrange them on plates.

4. Divide the wheatball mixture and drizzle each with some of the cheezee sauce. Serve hot.

Wheatballs

Makes about 28 wheatballs

1 1/2 cups cooked or 1 (15.5-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 cup chopped white mushrooms

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

2 tablespoons tomato paste

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon water

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for cooking

1/2 cup dry bread crumbs

1/2 cup wheat gluten flour (vital wheat gluten)

1/4 cup nutritional yeast

1 teaspoon dried basil

3/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1. In a food processor, combine the chickpeas, mushrooms, garlic, and parsley and pulse until coarsely ground, but not pureed. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse to combine.

2. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the mixture into a large bowl and knead the mixture until well blended, about 2 minutes.

3. Pinch off a small piece of the mixture, press it together in your hand, then roll into a 1 1/2-inch ball. Repeat with the remaining mixture.

4. In a large skillet, heat a thin layer of oil over medium heat. Add the wheatballs, in batches if necessary, and cook until browned all over, moving them in the pan as needed for even browning, about 5 minutes.

5. Repeat until all the wheatballs are cooked. They are now ready to use in recipes. If not using right away, cool completely, then cover and refrigerate or freeze until needed. Properly stored, they will keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for 3 to 4 weeks.

Cheezee Sauce

Makes about 2 1/2 cups

2/3 cup nutritional yeast

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 cups plain unsweetened soy milk or water

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon yellow mustard

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the yeast, cornstarch, salt, and garlic powder. Turn the heat on medium and whisk in the soy milk. Cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens, about 1 minute.

2. Remove from the heat and stir in the oil, lemon juice, vinegar, and mustard. The sauce is now ready to use. If not using right away, refrigerate the sauce in a container with a tight-fitting lid, where it will keep for several days.

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WOW! What a fabulous meal. I’ll tell you- strangely the only thing I’ve really craved (and it is once in a blue moon) since going veg is a hamburger…and I used to not even really eat them? Maybe its been on days when I’m low in Iron or something haha. Homemade marinara? Sounds just incredible.
.-= Erica´s last blog ..Cookbook Giveaway: Emeril’s Farm to Fork =-.

Years and years ago – when I used to freely and ignorantly consume meat – I was never enticed by the look or smell of a meatball sub. This, though – this I may try.
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Tight Squeeze =-.

I love this! And I love that I have all those ingredients (aside from the nutritional yeast which I could buy in bulk) on hand too. Sounds wonderful! 😀
.-= Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down)´s last blog ..Summer, Beans and Life’s To Do List =-.

Krys, great idea. I’ve always wanted to do that. I thought about doing it with a Mario Batali book before I became vegetarian. I could be cooking pheasants and rabbits and such instead of vegan meatballs!

Alright. Made ’em for dinner and ate ’em up. The Cheezee sauce is unbelievably good. We’re going to use it in Mac-n-cheese to see how it works there.

The wheatballs didn’t have quite enough “tooth” for us. Not quite firm enough. So, first thing we’re going to try is baking them for 15-20 minutes in a 350 degree oven after they’ve been browned, but before they simmer in the marinara. Similar to making seitan. If that doesn’t do it, we’re going to increase the vital wheat gluten a bit.

Made these for dinner tonight. SOOOO delicious!! Seriously. Anyone reading this post should run right into the kitchen and whip some up!! They were great! My girls (who are cheese-sauce-aholics) loved the cheeze….they didn’t guess that it’s not real cheese and we didn’t tell them! We will definitely be making these again!!!

Hey Heather, nice to meet you. I’m excited to hear that the Veggie Patch meatballs are good. They sent me some coupons to try and review their stuff; I just haven’t made it to a store that carries Veggie Patch. Soon though, I hope!

I am so glad my friends showed me your site. My oldest son is a competitive gymnast (and all around energy ball) who prefers to not eat meat. I made this sandwich for the family last night and even my self professed meat loving 8 year old loved it…and asked for more.

I just made these substituting 3/4 cup tvp granules rehydrated with 3/4 cup hot water for the chickpeas and 1 15 oz. can of mushrooms squeezed completely dry in a dishcloth instead of the fresh mushrooms. I kept everything else the same except I baked them on a sheet pan coated in olive oil at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes on each side. They taste delicious and are quite toothsome-kind of like Nate’s(which I can’t find anywhere and is how I came across your recipe).

I am interested to see the exercises! Many of the exercise programs don’t have any for the beginner. I have bought several videos for cardio that were nearly impossible for someone obese (and not terribly co-ordinated) to do. I know that the traditional sit-ups, leg lifts, and isometric exercises work, as I have used them, but I was not as overweight then as I am now and I need HELP!

Just made these for my daughter who is vegetarian. Made traditonal meatballs for the rest of us that are NOT vegetarian. I found myself liking the wheatballs BETTER than the meatballs!! So did my other NOT vegetarian daughter! Excellent recipe…will make again!

These wheatballs are amazing! I baked them in the oven at 375 for 15, then flipped them and for another 15. I ate them right out of the oven and had to stop myself, to save some for my family. I send them to school with my 10 year old. He shares them with other kids because they like them too! I am calling them Amazeballs.

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